Urban League, Walgreens to Provide Free Health Tests For Atlanta Communities on Way to Well Tour

For a seventh consecutive year, National Urban League and Walgreens are partnering for the Way to Well Tour to provide free health screenings to Atlanta residents. The national tour will provide free health resources to residents in urban and minority communities who experience disproportionately higher rates of preventable disease. The service is free and insurance will not be billed.

The 2013 tour marks the seventh year Walgreens and the National Urban League have joined together on the community outreach program. In six years, the tour has administered more than half a million health tests valued at $11.4 million to more than 1,000 communities throughout the United States.

Since 2009, 40 percent of those who tested positive for High Blood Pressure, and over 20 percent of those who tested positive for High Cholesterol, were unaware of their diagnosis and were able to receive consultations and educational resources, while over 30 percent of those tested had no health insurance.

“The National Urban League is thrilled to partner with Walgreens for the Way to Well Health Tour for the seventh year in a row,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “As many urban and minority communities in the United States are struggling to afford rising health care costs in an uneasy economy, the free tests provided by the Way to Well Health Tour are vital to disease detection and prevention. Working together with Walgreens, we hope to educate and empower urban and minority communities to live healthier lifestyles.”

“Way to Well reflects our commitment to disease prevention and to improving everyday health through education and early detection. With the NUL, the nationwide traveling health tour is one way we deliver on our pledge to improve lives by providing underserved communities greater access to the resources they need,” said John Gremer, Walgreens director of community affairs. “We also thank our customers for supporting this cause with us, and ultimately making this important wellness services program a reality by simply purchasing our brand.”

The Way to Well Health Tour is partially funded by consumers who support the Walgreens wellness services mission by purchasing Walgreens brand health and wellness products. Beginning February 1, 2013 through January 31, 2014, 1 cent from the purchase of every Walgreens brand health and wellness product, up to $3 million annually, will support bringing preventive wellness services to local communities through the Walgreens Way to Well Fund.

The national tour will provide free health tests, assessments, education and consulting services to residents in urban and minority communities who experience disproportionately higher rates of preventable disease. The service is free and insurance will not be billed. Tests include total cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, body mass index, body composition, skeletal muscle, resting metabolism, visceral fat, real body age and body weight.

Collectively, the health tests valued at over $100, are administered to adults age 18 years and older by certified wellness staff and can be completed in approximately 20 minutes. Afterward, participants will consult with a Walgreens pharmacist or certified wellness staff about his or her results. Consumers are encouraged to report their results to their doctor or health care provider so they may discuss any concerns with them.

In addition to critical screenings uninsured visitors will receive vouchers for free flu shots redeemable at any Walgreens Take Care Clinic. Also available with the tour are educational health and wellness resources provided by NUL as well as Walgreens Way to Well cause partners: American Heart Association (AHA), American Cancer Society (ACS), American Diabetes Association (ADA), Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.